Staten Island set for birthday blowout

The Empire State Building in Manhattan will glow blue, white and orange on Monday to commemorate the day Dutch, French and Belgian settlers made their home in present-day South Beach 350 years ago.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A birthday festival will be held Monday at the St. George Ferry Terminal Plaza and Esplanade, as the Empire State Building glows in blue, white and orange to commemorate the day Dutch, French and Belgian settlers made their home in present-day South Beach 350 years ago.

The colors acknowledge a flag designed in 1625 when the settlement of New Amsterdam was established in Manhattan. They are still used today in the New York City flag.

Staten Islanders can view the Empire State Building lights when they go on at dusk during a music and craft festival sponsored by si350 and running from 5 to 8 p.m.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is scheduled to speak at 7:15 p.m. on the esplanade near the Richmond County Ballpark at St. George. A representative from the Embassy of the Netherlands is expected to attend.

Robert Coghlan, chairman of si350, requested the lights on behalf of his organization, and his was among a select few to be accepted from hundreds of inquiries each year. The lights will be on until 2 a.m. Tuesday.

MAYOR COMING

"We have the mayor coming out to help us light the night with this craft and music festival by the ferry," Coghlan said.

After the mayor's remarks, Martin Rivas, a singer and musician who grew up in Port Richmond and just returned from touring with Beyonce and Prince, will sing "Happy Birthday" as a cake is presented. Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore), who will celebrate her birthday tomorrow, is among elected officials and dignitaries expected to attend.

The four-tier cake, which will incorporate the colors and Staten Island iconic images such as the ferry, will be made by Jennifer Fe de Leon of Elm Park who has an online bakery at www.aristocake.com. The Lenape Indian Native American Dancers are scheduled to perform at 5 p.m., followed by the Irish Step Dancers, Joey Kelly and Dee Meyer doing Beatles and Rolling Stones music, and then Rivas.

LOADS OF ACTIVITIES

Activities for children will include Staten Island Lenape Fire Demonstrations courtesy of the Staten Island Museum, volunteers from Historic Richmond Town making Victorian crafts, and storytelling by the National Lighthouse Museum.

Children are encouraged to wear orange, white and blue for the chance to receive free gift certificates to Applebee's and free "Discovering Staten Island" coloring books authored by Lori Weintrob, a professor at Wagner College and co-chairwoman of si350.

WEAR THE COLORS

"We want the young people to wear orange, white and blue to feel connected to the New York City flag and the Dutch and French origins of Staten Island," Ms. Weintrob said.

"The ferry terminal is an ideal location because the light of the Empire State Building can be easily seen from there and also because so much of the early history of Staten Island took place in St. George."

The event, which is being co-chaired by Leticia Remauro, was first proposed by the Staten Island Chinese School's Josephina Chin, who is serving as si350 youth committee chairwoman.

On Aug. 22, 1661, Gov. Gen. Peter Stuyvesant granted land to 13 Dutch and French Huguenot families who created the first permanent European settlement on Staten Island, living alongside their Lenape neighbors.

Other si350 events this month will include fireworks and re-enactments. A number of nature programs will highlight August as Environmental History Month.